Suds producing appliance



Aug. 22, 1967 E. EFSTATHIOU 3,33792 sUDs PRODUCING APPLIANCE Filed June11, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \l\ INVENTOR Aug 22, w67 E. EFSTATHIOU SUDSPRODUCING APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June ll 1964 INVENTOR Aug.22, 1967 E. EFSTATHIOU 3,337,192

SUDS PRODUCING APPLIANCE Filed June 1l, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet '.5

IN VENTOR United States Patent Oliice 3,337,192 Patented Aug. 22, 19673,337,192 SUDS PRODUCING APPLIANCE Evangelos Efstathiou, 546 RushtonRoad, Toronto 10, Ontario, Canada Filed lIune 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,4436 Claims. (Cl. 259-23) This invention relates to improvements in meansfor producing suds from Water and `detergent or other soap like productsand is especially applied to such sudsing devices as can be utilized inthe home.

It is common practice for housewives when washing dishes and smallclothing articles to till a sink basin with `water and add detergent. Itwill be seen that in many instances, particularly when only one or twoplates are to be washed, that this method is wasteful of hot water anddetergent. It is a common experience for a housewife to wash only one ortwo dishes at one particular time and heretofore no satisfactory meansfor doing this has been developed.

By resort to the present invention however, means are provided wherebyany number .of separate articles or 'dishes may be washed at anyparticular time as may be required without wasting hot water ordetergent. The invention accomplishes this object by providing anelectrically operated device which will proportion water and detergentor other soap like material, as required, and produce a continuousstream of the suds, the concentration of these suds being variable asrequired.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a sudsVproducing devi-ce which will substantially reduce the time required forcleaning dishes, the dishes being conveniently cleaned by means of thesuds stream, whereafter they can be rinsed and stacked for drying.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a suds producingdevice which may be conveniently located adjacent to a sink basin andconnected as required to the water supply whereby the suds would `beready for use at all times.

A still further object of this present invention is to provide a sudsproducing device incorporating means thereon whereby suds can beproduced immediately upon starting the machine, thus always to have sudsimmediately available for washing a single 'dish or small article aswell as to have continuous suds available for larger washingr jobs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suds producingdevice incorporating novel means for adjusting the rate of a detergentflow relative to the suds produced in order that the concentration ofsuds can be varied.

Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description and accompanying drawings inwhich like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views.

1n the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a presently preferred embodiment of thedevice and shows the mixing chamber in section in order to revealdetails therein;

FIG. 2 is a View on the arrow 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1 and showsthe opposite side thereof to illustrate the mixing and detergent supplyheld;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a suds producing device is shown and indicatedgenerally by numeral 11. The device 11 comprises a base member 12 havinga mixing vessel or chamber 13 secured thereto. An electric motor 14 issecured by means of the mounting rods 15 to the top of the chamber 13and is provided with a shaft 16 projecting through the bearing 17 andextending into the interior 18 of the chamber 13.

A mixing blade 19 is secured Aas at 20 to the end of shaft 16 andextends downwardly towards the bottom of the chamber 13. The mixingblade 19 is cut-away in the center portion thereof and a baille 21 issecured to the bottom of the chamber 13 whereby the arm of the Iblade 19clear the bale 21 and are adapted to cause agitation of the liquid 22 inchamber 13 upon the shaft 16 being rotated by the motor 14. A bathe 23is secured in `an upper portion of the chamber 13 and prevents sudsforming in the chamber 13 from coming in contact with the breather hole24 at the lower extremity of air supply pipe 25.

Thus upon operation of the motor 14, whi-ch is supplied with electricityby means of the leads 26 fand controlled by the switch 27, shown moreclearly in FIG. 4, suds are formed within the chamber 13, these sudsebeing mixed with air introduced through pipe 25 and exiting through thedelivery tube 28 for use in washing an article. i v

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a detergent supply tank 29 shownmounted on the frame 30 is provided with an outlet in communication withconduit 31 extending tothe plunger valve 32. The plunger valve 32 isoperated by the ram 33 which is operatively connected to the solenoid34. Check-valve 31a provided in conduit 31 and check-valve 32a providedat the discharge end of plunger valve 32 interact to permitunidirectional flowof detergent from tank 29 to cavity 32h of plungervalve 32 upon movement of ram 33to the left in FIGURE 2, and from cavity3211 into line 35 upon movement of ram 33 tothe right in FIGURE 2. Thusupon operation of the solenoid 34 by its energization the ram 33initially moves inwardly, i.e. to the right, and sends a charge ofdetergent from the cavity 32b into the line 35 and, upon de-energizationof solenoid 34, the ram is retracted by the action of tension spring 34ato draw detergent from tank 29 into cavity 32b.

' Energization of solenoid 34 is controlled by the opening and closingof switch 36 which is actuated by the cam 37 on the controlknob 38. Aswill be seen'from FIG. 3 the line 35 extends from the plunger valve 32into the upper portion of the chamber 13.

It is preferable to provide the supply .tank 29 with the sight glass 39and a removable cap 40. In this manner' the `amount of detergent orother soap-like material los cated within the tank at any one time canbe known and additional detergent can be added as necessary.

With further reference to FIG. 3 and with reference to FIG. 4 theinjector means for injecting water and detergent into the chamber 13 isillustrated. The normal supply of detergent comes from supply tank 29through pipe 41 which leads to the needle valve 42. The needle valve 42is pfovided with a threadedneedle 43 which projects in threadedengagement through the gland nut 44 and into the body of the needlevalve 42.

A stop cock 45 is supplied with water through the sup ply line 46 viathe adjustable needle valve 47. The needle valve 47 operates in a mannersimilar to that for the needle valve 42 and for that reason is notdetailed in section here. The stop cock 45 is provided with an extensiononto which the control knob 38 is secured. Thus upon turning the knob 38the stop cock, after a turn of a few degrees, begins to open wherebywater flows from the line 46 through the valve stop cock 45 and into thedelivery tube 48 and thence into the chamber 13. A line is connectedfrom the needle valve 42, this line 49 entering the delivery tube 48whereby, upon water flowing through the tube 48, detergent will besucked through the line 49 from the needle valve 42.

A pair of gears, gear 50 secured to the end 51 of the stop cock 45 andgear 52 secured to the threaded shaft 43 of the needle valve 42, aremeshed whereby upon rotation of the stop cock shaft 51 the needle valve42 is caused to open or close. It will be seen that for a complete turnof 360 degrees the stop cock will open and close twice whereas theneedle valve 42 will retract outwardly to open the valve. By suitablyvarying the ratio of the gear 50 to the gear 52 the lamount of openingof valve 42 for a complete revolution of the stop cock 45 can be varied.

As a further aid in varying the control of detergent through the needlevalve 42 the gear 52 is adjustably held on the shaft 43 by means of thelock nut 53 and the thumb nut 54. Thus by loosening the thumb nut 54 theneedle valve 52 may be opened or closed more or less as desiredwhereafter the thumb nut 54 can be tightened thus to have the needlevalve operative with the stop cock as before.

The water supply line 46 is connected to a faucet connector designatedby numeral 55 which has an open mouth as at 56l which is adapted to besecured to the faucet of a conventional sink fixture. The bell shapedmouth 57 of the adaptor 55 is provided with a screen 58 and a centerhole 59. A small slide valve 60I operated by the lever 61 is located onthe bell mouth end 57 whereby more or less of the water passing throughthe adaptor 55 can be directed through hole 59 or screen 58.

A ball 62 is biased to a seat 63 by means of a spring 64. In this mannera portion of the water flowing into the connector 55 will be diverted,due to water pressure, past the ball 62 and out through the screen 58.The remaining portion of the water will thus be delivered through thepipe 46 and into the device.

With reference to FIG. 5 the wiring diagram for this device is shownwherein the motor 14 is shown connected to the supply leads 65 and 66through the switch 27. The solenoid 34 is shown connected to the leads65 and 66 through the switch 36. The leads 65 and 66 are preferablyprovided with a conventional type of electrical plug-in connector and ifdesired the three wire system may be used whereby the ground wire 67 isincluded which can be attached to the frame of the device 11 in order toprevent accidental shock upon failure of any insulation within thedevice.

In use the device as illustrated in the drawing can be connected to thefaucet of a sink fixture by means of the .adaptor 55 whereafter thesupply faucet can be turned on to supply the device with water. Thewater pressure into the device can be controlled by means of the needlevalve 47 whereby the device can be adapted for use with different watersupply pressures.

The amount of water actually entering the device can be controlled bymeans of the needle valve 47 and the detergent supplied can be varied bysuitably adjusting the gears 50 and 52 in conjunction with the knob 38.It will be seen that upon starting the device the cam 37 closing theswitch 36 will cause the solenoid 34 to operate and plunger 33 willsupply the quantity of detergent directly from the line 35 into thechamber 13.

Continued operation of the device will cause the water to flow throughthe sto-p cock 45 and from the pipe 48 into the chamber 13. As waterflows through the delivery pipe 48 detergent will iiow through the pipe41 and into the needle valve 42 where the flow is regulated and suppliedby the pipe 49 into the delivery tube 48.

The rotation of the mixing blade 19 by the motor 14 together with thebaffle 21 will cause a vigorous amount of suds to be generated withinthe chamber 13. The bafe 23 will prevent suds from moving upwardly intothe upper portion of the chamber 13 thus keeping the hole 24 openwhereby air may enter through the tube 25 into the interior 18 to bemixed with the soap or other detergent and water mixture thereby toprovide the suds. The suds on exiting from the tube 28 may be applieddirectly to the article to be washed and various types of brushes andother kitchen aids may be utilized in applying the soap suds to thearticle.

Upon turning the device off rotation of the knob 38 actuates cam 37causing switch 36 to open entirely whereby the plunger valve 32 willdraw an additional amount of detergent into the line extending tochamber 13. In this manner la supply of detergent in the line 35 readyfor the next use will be assured.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesmeans for supplying limited quantities of detergent and water in a sudsform whereby small articles and single dishes can be readily washed. Thedevice also provides means for supplying larger quantities o-f sudswhereby larger amounts of dishes and the like can be washed.

It will also be seen that the present device reduces the washing timefor dishes and other similar articles since by utilizing the device thetime normally required for storing the dishes in between the washing andrinsing operation is eliminated.

It will be further understood that although a specific embodiment of theinvention has herein been described and illustrated the invention alsocontemplates such variations as may fall within the scope of theappended claims.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are dened as Ifollows:

1. A suds producing device wherein water from a faucet is mixed withliquid detergent to produce washing suds and comprising: a mixingchamber; a motor driven mixing blade rotatably supported within saidchamber; a detergent supply tank; a solenoid ope-rated plunger valvemeans connected between said tank and said chamber, whereby uponstarting said device said plunger valve 'means will inject a measuredquantity of said detergent into said chamber to mix with incoming water;and injector means connected to said faucet and said supply tank,whereby upon said water flowing, said detergent is sucked from said tankto provide a mixture of water and detergent, said mixture bein-g furthermixed with air in said chamber by said blade, thereby to produce saidsuds.

2. A suds producing device wherein water from a faucet is mixed withliquid detergent to produce washing suds and comprising: a ymixingchamber; a motor driven mixing blade rotatably supported within saidchamber; a detergent supply tank; a solenoid operated plunger valvemeans connected between said tank and said chamber, whereby uponstarting said device said plunger valve means will inject a measuredquantity of said detergent into said chamber to mix with incoming water;injector means connected to said faucet and said supply tank, wherebyupon said water flowing, said detergent is sucked from said tank toprovide a -mixture of water and detergent, said mixture being furthermixed with air in said chamber by said blade, thereby to produce saidsuds; and a water needle valve connected between said injector means andsaid faucet, thereby to provide pressure control for said water flowinginto said device.

3. A suds producing device wherein water vfrom a faucet is -mixed withliquid detergent to produce washing suds and lcomprising in combination,for use with a source of power, a mixing chamber having an air intakeport therein, a mixing blade rotatably supported within said chamber anddriven by said source of power, a detergent supply tank, a water supplyline extending between said faucet and said chamber, first valve meansconnected into said line at an intermediate point thereof, and secondvalve means connected between said supply tank and said water supplyline joining said supply line `between said rst valve means and saidchamber, means for operating said first and second valve -means inadjustably metered unison, thereby to control relatively the ow ofdetergent and water and means for preventing the .blockage of said portby a head of foam from the aerated mixture.

4. A suds producing device wherein water from a faucet is mixed withliquid detergent to produce Washing suds and comprising in combination,for use with a source f power, a mixing chamber having an intake porttherein a mixing blade Irotatably supported within said chamber anddriven by said source of power, a detergent supply tank, third solenoidvalve means connected between said tank and said chamber, and meansoperable upon starting said device whereby said third valve means willinject a measured quantity of said detergent into said chamber to mixwith incoming water, a water supply line extending between said faucetand said chamber, rst valve means connected into said line at anintermediate point thereof, and second valve means connected betweensaid supply tank and said water supply line joining said supply lineIbetween said rst valve means and said chamber, means for -operatingsaid first and second valve means in adjustably metered unison, therebyto control the relative ow of detergent and water and means forpreventing the blockage of said port by a head of foam from the aeratedmixture.

5. A suds producing device wherein water from a faucet is mixed withliquid detergent to produce washing suds and comprising in combination,lfor use with a source of power, a mixing chamber having an air intakeport therein, a mixing blade rotatably supported within said chamber andconnected to said source of power, a detergent supply tank, a thirdsolenoid valve means connected between said tank and said chamber,whereby upon starting said device said third valve means will inject ameasured quantity of said detergent into said chamber to mix withincoming water, a water supply line extending between said faucet andsaid chamber, a first valve means connected into said line at anintermediate point thereof, a faucet adaptor at the faucet end of saidsupply line removably connectable to said faucet, a relief yalve in saidadaptor to limit the water pressure flowing to said device, and a secondvalve means connected between said supply tank and said water supplyline, joining said supply line between said irst valve means and saidchamber, means for operating said rst and second valve means inadjustably metered unison, thereby to control the relative flow ofdeter-gent and Water and means -for preventing the blockage of said portby a head of foam from the aerated mixture.

6. A suds producing device wherein water from a faucet is mixed withliquid detergent to produce washing suds, and comprising, in combinationfor use with a source of power, a mixing chamber having an air intakeport therein, a mixing blade rotatably supported within said chamber anddriven by said source of power, a water supply line communicating saidfaucet with said mixing cham-ber, first valve means connected into saidwater supply line for controlling the iow of water through said line, adeter- -gent supply tank having a supply line communicating said tankwith said chamber mounted in proximity to said chamber `for supplyingdetergent to said chamber, and second valve means connected into saiddeter-gent supply line for controlling the flow of detergent throughsaid line means for operating said rst and second valve means inadjustably metered unison thereby to control the relative `flow of Waterand detergent, and means for preventing the blockage of said port by ahead of foam from the aerated mixture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,395 5/1877 Wiesebrock 259-8 X2,033,412 3/1936 Chapman 259-8 2,052,569 9/1936 Jensen 259-46 2,814,471ll/1957 Carr et al 259-4 2,959,043 11/ 1960 Johnson 259-8 X 2,971,748 2/1961 Ellegast 259-7 2,975,804 3/1961 Dunn etal 137-607 X 3,180,3504/1965 Rill et al. 259-7 X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. WALTER A.SCHEEL, Examiner. J. M. BELL, Assistant Examiner7

1. A SUDS PRODUCING DEVICE WHEREIN WATER FROM A FAUCET IS MIXED WITHLIQUID DETERGENT TO PRODUCE WASHING SUDS AND COMPRISING: A MIXINGCHAMBER; A MOTOR DRIVEN MIXING BLADE ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAIDCHAMBER; A DETERGENT SUPPLY TANK; A SOLENOID OPERATED PLUNGER VALVEMEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TANK AND SAID CHAMBER, WHEREBY UPONSTARTING SAID DEVICE SAID PLUNGER VALVE MEANS WILL INJECT A MEASUREDQUANTITY OF SAID DETERGENT INTO SAID CHAMBER TO MIX WITH INCOMING WATER;AND INJECTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FAUCET AND SAID SUPPLY TANK,WHEREBY UPON SAID WATER FLOWING, SAID DETERGENT IS SUCKED FROM SAID TANKTO PROVIDE A MIXTURE OF WATER AND DETERGENT, SAID MIXTURE BEING FURTHERMIXED WITH AIR IN SAID CHAMBER BY SAID BLADE, THEREBY TO PRODUCE SAIDSUDS.